Through the Lens of the Other

TLO project featured image

Context & Background

“Through the Lens of the Other” aims to introduce and explore new ways of understanding and addressing discrimination in Europe. Critical theories in social sciences explain, through the concept of intersectionality, how oppressive social beliefs and structures (xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, ableism etc.) are interconnected; systematic oppression cannot be understood or addressed with single-issue approaches as they tend to accentuate a specific part of the target groups’ identity and, thus, perpetuate otherness. Co-existing multiple identities demand an approach to integration that is holistic and sensitive to different experiences.

Discrimination due to gender, sexuality, race, culture, physical ability, ethnicity and nationality are the main aspects that the project centers upon; its influence is in the social, economic and behavioral development of the people affected and can be expressed in different terms. Apart from the marginalization, which is the main influence on their social development, discrimination can be detected in the exclusion of the aforementioned people from equal treatment by institutions (e.g. unequal access to democratic rights, discrimination in the workplace, access to the labor market).

The common element in these discriminations is the process of othering, that is, of viewing people around you as inherently and essentially different, based on their belonging to one certain group. Shedding light onto this structure, outlining how it is a common process in all discriminations and operationalizing the analytical framework though non-formal learning activities will work as a step towards tackling it. To this end, youth workers need to be equipped and strategically placed for navigating through challenging situations, embracing complexity as a positive aspect of life.

Aims & Objectives

“Through the Lens of the Other” aspires to:

– Empower individuals and reinforce the agency of marginalized groups thus enhancing their

representation;

– Raise awareness on the victimization of vulnerable groups thus fostering empathy;

– Promote positive attitudes towards discriminated groups thus embracing diversity as an

asset in a society;

– Reduce prejudice and promote social integration thus fostering inclusion of marginalized people;

– Promote integration and cohesion among EU member states regarding rights and Freedoms.

 

Activities, Methods & Deliverables

TLO’s analytical framework will be operationalized through non-formal learning (learning by doing, peer learning, learning through arts) and different tools that will be enriched in the course of the project. The power of the image has a central role in the effort to sensitize the public on issues of discrimination. In specific, audio-visual products will be created by the project teams in the different countries, translated into English and screened in local events organized in partner communities and the international inclusion festival organized by Inter Alia. The project will also offer online, open access educational material on intersectionality in all partner languages as well as policy recommendations for the integration of marginalized groups resulting from deliberation with youngsters, youth professionals, policy makers, local communities and other stakeholders.

Course of activities:

Kick-Off Meeting: 17 – 20 January 2019, Berlin, Germany

Capacity Building Activity for Youth Workers: 16 – 25 April 2019, Busteni, Romania

1st Youth Exchange on Intersectionality: 9 – 18 September 2019, Malta

Inclusion Festival: 13 – 17 February 2020, Athens, Greece

2nd Youth Exchange on Advocacy about Intersectionality: 21 – 30 April 2020, Pecs, Hungary

Final Evaluation Meeting: 15 – 18 September 2020, Sinop, Turkey

A series of local events will be taking place in the whole duration of the project, across all participating countries.

“Through the Lens of the Other” is taking place under the European Youth Together – subprogram of the Erasmus+ KA3, by a consortium of 14 partners in 11 different countries.

For more information about the project, contact Boyka Boneva at boneva@interaliaproject.com or Nikos Papakostas at papakostas@interaliaproject.com.

Intersectionality as a Method / Η Διαθεματικότητα ως Μέθοδος

Research

The research period is concluded

People may face disadvantage, discrimination and oppression due to their gender, sexual orientation, race, physical ability, ethnicity and other identity markers. Racial minorities, people with disabilities and individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- or intersex (LGBTI) are among the most discriminated against in society.

The concept of intersectionality offers an analytical framework in which different identity markers are understood as not existing independently of each other, but are often intertwined, contributing to systemic oppression experienced by an individual or a group of individuals. For example, racial discrimination against Black people may have gender-specific components that put Black women in a less advantageous position compared to Black men and vice versa. In such a way, intersectional analysis contributes to the understanding and responding to the ways multiple discrimination due to diverse subject positions creates an entirely new experience of exclusion that cannot be understood with single-issue approaches.

“Through the Lens of the Other” Survey

Understanding the intersections between age and other identity markers is crucial for the successful implementation of the current project. A survey-based research will be conducted to adequately address the experiences of young people (15-30 years) suffering from different types of inequalities and discrimination.

The aim of the survey is to define how multiple systems of oppression may intersect and affect groups of young people in each participating country and more specifically in each local community. The findings will inform the content and methods of non-formal trainings and activities which will be offered to the beneficiaries to help them cope with systemic discrimination and bring concerns to the forefront.

*If you are interested in taking part in this survey, please contact Melina Kalfanti at melina.inter.alia@gmail.com

Οι άνθρωποι ενδέχεται να αντιμετωπίζουν μειονεκτήματα, διακρίσεις και καταπίεση λόγω του φύλου, του σεξουαλικού προσανατολισμού, της φυλής, της σωματικής ικανότητας, της εθνικότητας και άλλων χαρακτηριστικών της ταυτότητάς τους. Οι φυλετικές μειονότητες, οι άνθρωποι με ειδικές ανάγκες, τα άτομα που αυτοπροσδιορίζονται ως λεσβίες, ομοφυλόφιλοι, αμφιφυλόφιλοι, τρανς ή ίντερεξ (ΛΟΑΤΚΙ) είναι ανάμεσα σε αυτούς που υφίστανται τις χειρότερες διακρίσεις στην κοινωνία.

Η έννοια της διαθεματικότητας (εναλλακτικά απαντάται ως “διασταυρούμενες καταπιέσεις”) προσφέρει ένα αναλυτικό πλαίσιο στο οποίο διαφορετικά χαρακτηριστικά ταυτότητας γίνεται κατανοητό πως δεν δεν είναι αυθύπαρκτα αλλά συχνά συνδέονται, ενισχύοντας τη συστημική καταπίεση που αισθάνεται ένα άτομο ή μία ομάδα ατόμων. Για παράδειγμα, η φυλετική διάκριση προς τους μαύρους ανθρώπους μπορεί να έχει συγκεκριμένους έμφυλους παράγοντες που τοποθετούν τις μαύρες γυναίκες σε λιγότερο πλεονεκτική κατάσταση από τους μαύρους άνδρες και το αντίθετο. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο, η διαθεματική ανάλυση συνεισφέρει στην κατανόηση και την αντιμετώπιση των τρόπων με τους οποίους η πολλαπλή διάκριση λόγω διαφορετικών θέσεων υποκειμένου δημιουργεί μία εντελώς νέα εμπειρία αποκλεισμού που δεν μπορεί να προσεγγιστεί με μονοθεματικές προσεγγίσεις.

Η Έρευνα “Through the Lens of the Other”

Η κατανόηση των συνδέσεων μεταξύ της ηλικίας και άλλων χαρακτηριστικών της ταυτότητας είναι κρίσιμη για την επιτυχημένη εφαρμογή του τρέχοντος project. Μία έρευνα με στόχο την σφυγμομέτρηση θα πραγματοποιηθεί ώστε να αναδειχθούν επαρκώς οι εμπειρίες των νέων (15 με 30 ετών) που υφίστανται διαφορετικά είδη ανισοτήτων και διακρίσεων.

Ο στόχος αυτής της έρευνας είναι να ορίσει πως πολλαπλά συστήματα καταπίεσης μπορούν να αλληλοδιαπλέκονται και να επηρεάζουν ομάδες νέων σε κάθε συμμετέχουσα χώρα, και συγκεκριμένα σε κάθε τοπική κοινότητα. Τα ευρήματα πρόκειται να ενημερώσουν το περιεχόμενο και τις μεθόδους των εκπαιδεύσεων μη τυπικής μάθησης και τις δραστηριότητες που θα προσφερθούν στους ωφελούμενους, προκειμένου να τους βοηθήσουν να αντιμετωπίσουν τη συστημική καταπίεση και να φέρουν τις ανησυχίες τους στο προσκήνιο.

*Αν ενδιαφέρεστε να συμμετάσχετε στην έρευνα, επικοινωνήστε με τη Μελίνα Καλφαντή στο melina.inter.alia@gmail.com